Nicklaus Design Around the Globe 

Asia Booming

Meeting the demands of the Asia golf course market is a refreshing and diverse challenge, with Nicklaus Design courses providing world-class experiences to private club members and daily fee players alike.
“Asia is a great example of Nicklaus Design’s ability and desire to create exactly what ownership is looking for in a golf course in a variety of diverse markets within the region,” Paul Stringer, President, Nicklaus Companies Asia-Pacific. “As we continue to grow the Nicklaus Design footprint internationally, we are pioneers in promoting golf and building the game  in new markets around the world.”
A few updates:

• In coordination with Nicklaus Design’s Marsha Liu, we have reached agreement with a prominent golf course owner in Shanghai to renovate an existing 27-hole layout.
• The Bear’s Best CheongNa Golf Club in South Korea, a Jack Nicklaus Signature course, earned rave reviews from competitors at the prestigious Kia Motors 33rd Korea Women’s Open, the premier event on the KLPGA Tour.  Lee Da-yeon won at 4-under-par 284 on Bear’s Best CheongNa, which was set up at 6,869 yards.
• Nicklaus Club Beijing is in “6-Star” course condition, a level of quality unmatched in Asia, under the guidance of Superintendent Mike Wilson and support of General Manager Mike Saye, and was listed as a Top 100 Course in Asia this year.
• A series of projects are under way in Vietnam in association with the BRG Group, a leader in banking, resorts, and golf.  The second nine of DaNang is under construction with leadership by Designer Sean Quinn.Construction drawings have been completed recently for the Ha Nam course located just two hours from Hanoi.Ruby Tree Golf Resort, a Jack Nicklaus II Signature Design near Hai Phong, is finalizing plans and site preparation work prior to construction. Finishing touches are being made Designer Jim Wagner to the conceptual drawings for an additional new nine holes at Legend Hill, the successful double greens golf course near the international airport in Hanoi.Planning work continues with projects in Hue and Queens Valley by Sean Quinn.

• Up Next:  Nicklaus Design is finalizing agreements for additional new projects in Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

Designs with Integrity

Golf course renovations don’t have to touch every hole, but for Nicklaus Designers, maintaining architectural integrity is key.
“Back in the summer of 2010, Jack visited Course 1 at Real Club La Moraleja in Madrid, Spain to check the 10th and 11th holds, which had fallen out of original theme of the course after being redesigned locally,” said Nicklaus Designer Dirk Bouts.  “Consequently, Jack developed several concepts on how to solve the issues and recreate two nice golf holes.”
In collaborating with the owners, both holes were reversed, with the style of the bunkering and greens from the original course reinstalled. The holes now blend well within the corridors of existing tree lines. The entire course is now open for play.

Meanwhile, back in the States….

Return of Renegade

Renegade—the first of six Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses at Desert Mountain Club—reopened in June after a year-long renovation, led by the Golden Bear himself along with Designer, Chris Cochran.

Renegade provides two pin placements on every hole, allowing Desert Mountain members to customize the course every time they play it. Either pin placement can be played on any given day, providing a variety of options and distances from a forward tee-length of 4,500 yards to a champions’ test of 8,000 yards. The customization goes so far that hole 10 can play beautifully as a par 4 or a par 5, and hole 12 can be played either as a par 3 or a par 4—depending on the day and the choice of the player.
“Everything—including the game of golf—evolves and when the game changes, you’ve got to adapt with it,” Jack said.  “We opened up the renovated golf course a little bit by flattening the mounds and broadening the fairways, but it’s still the same golf course with two pins on every hole—just with a modernized playing strategy.”
In an effort to reduce maintenance expenses and to conserve water, the new design will require less irrigation and hand mowing.  About 10% (or about 12 acres) of irrigated turf was removed and turf switched from bermuda to bentgrass, making Renegade the only course in Scottsdale to feature wall-to-wall, cool-season turf base year-round.  Using bentgrass also eliminates the need to overseed, further reducing water usage, while allowing the course to remain green year-round.

JNII International Final Completed – Team Korea (KOLON) wins!

The unflappable winning team from Korea, Yong Pyo Hong and Taei Lim, won the 13th Jack Nicklaus International Invitational (JNII) on June 1 on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at  New Albany Country Club outside of Columbus, Ohio. The JNII is a two-person team competition for recreational players of all skill levels who experience competitive golf in a relaxed, social atmosphere.
Known as the Tournament of Champions, the international finals brought together the winners of JNII national tournaments held over the past 12 months in select countries with Jack Nicklaus Apparel programs. This is the first time in the event’s history that a woman has won the international final.

Video Spotlight: Jack Nicklaus II on working with Dad

Ever wonder what it would be like to work side-by-side and design golf courses with the greatest golfer of all time?  Jack Nicklaus II talks about what it’s like to collaborate with his father.

Partner Spotlight | Don Vultaggio

In the beginning of our successful relationship, which started more than seven years ago, AriZona wanted to produce a new product line with a recognizable consumer brand as well as partner who shared the company’s strong sense of family, values and loyal roots, making the Nicklaus Companies the ideal fit. Nicklaus not only is the greatest champion in golf history, but as a husband of 55+ years, a father of five and grandfather to 22, he has been lauded for his commitment to family and philanthropy.
“Family has always been number one and that’s how we run this business,” says Don Vultaggio, Founder of the family-owned AriZona Beverage Company. “Jack Nicklaus shares those same ideals and is simply a truly great American.  Jack told me early on that to be successful you have to be passionate, and we are both passionate people who demand the best.”
In collaboration with the Nicklaus Companies, AriZona’s popular Golden Bear line features a number of flavors, including regular Lemonade with Honey and Ginseng, Mango Lemonade, and The hugely successful Strawberry Lemonade. The flavored lemonades are available across America at popular grocery stores; convenience stores and golf courses.

Hats off to AHEAD!

Get your hat today.
Jack Nicklaus debuted the Play Yellow hat at the Masters, wore it at the Memorial Tournament and the U.S. Open and it has been a sensational success breaking ecommerce records for AHEAD and raising funds for the Children’s Miracle Network that will impact children’s health care locally and globally. Contributing to charity, especially children’s causes, is a passion for AHEAD and the Nicklaus Companies.

“When our friends at the Nicklaus Companies came to us and asked if there was anything we could create to support the new Play Yellow campaign, it was a very quick decision for us – Yes we can!” said AHEAD CEO Anne Broholm. “Jack and Barbara’s passion for helping children is beyond inspiring to us. We quickly worked to create something special in time for Mr. Nicklaus to wear at the Masters”

“Barbara and I are grateful to the team at AHEAD for joining us and many others in the Play Yellow effort to help make a difference in the lives of children, through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals,” Nicklaus said. “Like us, AHEAD cares about giving back to children and families in need. They are not simply the best headwear company in golf, they are an organization of people with big hearts. Hats off to AHEAD!”
Due to the overwhelming success, the fundraising campaign will continue through the end of the year! It is easy to make a difference, visit the AHEAD website:

You can order your Play Yellow hat – click this link!

Brett Favre on Golfing with Jack Nicklaus

It’s rare for Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre to take a backseat to anyone in the state of Wisconsin. But then came Jack Nicklaus.

Favre, a Hall-of-Famer and 11-time Pro Bowler, played in the PGA Tour Champions’ fourth annual American Family Insurance Championship at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wisc., this week, and he, of course, was one of the top celebrity draws. But Favre wasn’t alone. He was in a star-studded foursome that included two-time U.S. Open champ and Wisconsin native Andy North and the 18-time major champ Nicklaus.

Favre told reporters exactly what it was like playing with The Golden Bear.

“The only way I can describe it is being a priest and serving mass with the Pope,” Favre said. “It’s got to be a thrill to do that. I’m obviously not a golfer. I’m a Sunday golfer, like most of us. This is an extreme honor.”